GRAND FORKS COUNTY
COMMISSION MEETING
May 18, 2021 – 4:00 P.M.
The Board met pursuant to adjournment with Commissioners Pic, Falck, Rost and Knauf present. Commissioner Engen was absent.
Moved by Falck, seconded by Rost, to approve the minutes of the May 4, 2021 Commission Meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved by Rost, seconded by Falck, to approve the order of the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved by Knauf, seconded by Falck, to approve the consent agenda. Items in the consent agenda included: bills as submitted by the County Auditor, check #38252 – Anderson Dorinda- $130.48, 38253 – GF Public Health Department- $47682.42, 38254 – Gudajtes Amber- $44.8, 38255 – Indepth Inspections- $2291.67, 38256 – Knutson Carrie- $38.08, 38257 – Landeis, Katelyn- $126.56, 38258 – Magnuson Lane- $1078, 38259 – ND State Radio Communications- $3120, 38260 – Traill County Sheriff- $250, 38261 – Ingenuity Rm, LLC- $271.87, 38262 – Rodenburg Law Firm-Fargo- $156.53, 38263 – Anderson Dorinda- $70.56, 38264 – Traill County Sheriff- $500, 38265 – Traill County Sheriff- $400, 38266 – Walsh County Sheriff- $700, 38267 – Walsh County Sheriff- $130.12, 38268 – Briske, Raelee – $1699.6, 38269 – 3-D Specialties- $2190.08, 38270 – Alcohol Monitoring Systems, Inc.- $2109.5, 38271 – All Season’s Garden Center- $1544.98, 38272 – Altru Health System- $877, 38273 – Altru Health System (978)- $20393.52, 38274 – Andrus, Victoria R – $160.16, 38275 – Aquaventure Dive and Photo Center- $33601, 38276 – Aramark.- $436.84, 38277 – At & T Mobility- $95, 38278 – Baseview Petroleum Inc- $2630, 38279 – Best Western Harvest Inn & Suites- $129.98, 38280 – Bob Barker Company- $7602.85, 38281 – Boegel Susan- $436.08, 38282 – Burggraf’s Ace Hardware- $46.71, 38283 – City of Grand Forks-Fire Dept- $1406.75, 38284 – City of Grand Forks-Police Dept- $4406.49, 38285 – City of Grand Forks-Water- $7155.53, 38286 – Community Service Program- $2615, 38287 – Dacotah Paper Co- $326.37, 38288 – Dakota Supply Group- $104.96, 38289 – Deere Credit Inc- $2985.58, 38290 – Diamond Cleaning Supply- $247.98, 38291 – Dinicola, Leanna- $239.37, 38292 – Droneanalytics Inc- $1799, 38293 – East Central Regional Water District- $55, 38294 – Ecolab Pest Elimination Div- $1061.2, 38295 – Empowered Solutions LLC- $96.8, 38296 – Englehart, Chad- $89.71, 38297 – Enterprise Rent-A -Car- $109.75, 38298 – Fastenal- $59.44, 38299 – Fedex- $35.7, 38300 – First Collections Inc- $481.93, 38301 – First Collections Inc- $1127.79, 38302 – Forum Communications- $1185.54, 38303 – Friezen Holien, Amber L – $16.32, 38304 – Germundson Kress- $71.12, 38305 – GF Cnty Treasurer- $788.72, 38306 – GF County Crop Improvement Association- $600, 38307 – Home On The Range- $75.6, 38308 – Information Systems Corporatio- $2045.76, 38309 – Information Technology Dept- $3303.4, 38310 – Integrity Homecare and Counseling- $199.91, 38311 – Keller Jalissa Spanier- $259.84, 38312 – Knain Jolaine- $196.56, 38313 – Knutson Printing Co- $35, 38314 – Kronos- $504.87, 38315 – Lakes & Prairies Community Action- $397.8, 38316 – Lenoir, Miranda- $476.56, 38317 – Liberty Business Systems-Fargo- $191.66, 38318 – Little Keepers.- $2172.52, 38319 – Loffler- $50.05, 38320 – Long, Kateri R – $101.51, 38321 – Lund Jacki- $323.85, 38322 – Lunseth Plumbing & Heating- $11355, 38323 – Mak Construction LLC- $85685, 38324 – Manvel Oil Coop- $2092.23, 38325 – Marco – Mn- $327.86, 38326 – Marco -Tx- $692.24, 38327 – Marco Technologies LLC- $1440.15, 38328 – McKesson Medical Surgical- $521.85, 38329 – Menards- $315.24, 38330 – Merle’s Air Duct & Furnace Cleaning- $225, 38331 – Midcontinent Communications- $121.9, 38332 – Mutch Oil Co- $2343.61, 38333 – Mutch Oil Company- $409.2, 38334 – Myles Kami Jo- $70, 38335 – Myra Foundation- $242, 38336 – Naversa LLC- $111, 38337 – ND Assoc of Counties (NDACO)- $35, 38338 – ND DHS Finance Dept- $4632.88, 38339 – NDSU Ext Serv-Dept 3110- $414.5, 38340 – NDSU Pesticide Program-6050- $60, 38341 – NDSU Veterinary Diagnostic Lab- $85, 38342 – Ness Press Inc.- $32.5, 38343 – Networking Specialists- $3968.25, 38344 – Northern Plumbing Supply- $258.46, 38345 – Nygaard-Koplin Dawn- $275.93, 38346 – O’Reilly Auto Parts- $7.3, 38347 – Office Depot-Chicago- $291.86, 38348 – Olson Sadie- $21.84, 38349 – Olson, Mikaela E – $25.35, 38350 – Olson, Shannon L- $464.24, 38351 – Plummer Nicole- $312.2, 38352 – Praxair- $57.68, 38353 – Premium Waters, Inc- $81.99, 38354 – Puklich Chevrolet Inc- $36980, 38355 – RDO Truck Center- $151.78, 38356 – Red River High School- $32.5, 38357 – Reindeer Property Management- $20, 38358 – Roddie, Taylor R – $207.68, 38359 – Sagaser Steve- $60, 38360 – Sam’s Clubmc/Syncb- $1089.87, 38361 – Schmidt & Associates- $30, 38362 – Seeba Beth A- $40.85, 38363 – Severson Tiffany N- $121.52, 38364 – Shook, Patricia E – $24.08, 38365 – Staples Advantage- $284.02, 38366 – Staples Business Credit- $137.94, 38367 – Suedel Amy- $339.8, 38368 – Surplus Center Inc.- $96.08, 38369 – Sydell Inc- $4944.54, 38370 – Thief River Glass- $440, 38371 – Thomson West- $254.41, 38372 – Twp of Pleasant View Clk/Treas- $4929.62, 38373 – Twp of Plymouth Clerk- $1000, 38374 – US Bank – Cm-9705 – St Paul- $83170.84, 38375 – US Foodservices-Mpls- $7.35, 38376 – USPS-Poc- $10000, 38377 – Vasek Construction Inc- $29557, 38378 – Verizon Wireless – Newark Nj- $3144.74, 38379 – Weivoda Carpet Girl Inc- $2058.68, 38380 – Wicken, Greg- $125, 38381 – Zimmer Britta Josie- $890.16, and ACH payments to – Rolette County Sheriff- $300, – Schuman Law Office- $4100, – UND Forensic Pathology- $6662.5, – Acme Electric/Tool Crib of Nor – $1825.6, – Advanced Business Methods – $712.87, – Albrecht Mfg & Repair Inc. – $364.34, – All Embracing Home Care LLC – $48.93, – Allstate Peterbilt – $239.25, – Amundson Funeral Home – $2300, – Anderson Brothers Body Shop LLC – $1575.65, – Batteries Plus Bulbs – $215.56, – Border States Electric Supply – $770.6, – Business Essentials – $106.15, – Cintas – $139.92, – Cole Paper Inc. – $3639.43, – Comfort Keepers – $174.75, – Custom Stripes Inc – $1450, – Dennie’s Delivery Inc – $245.8, – Docu Shred Inc – $155.37, – Embrace Pharmacy Inc. – $30.22, – Evident – $16, – Farmers Oil Co – $6047.25, – GF Fire Equipment Company – $378.77, – Global Safety Network – $210.25, – Greg’s Laundry Equip Service – $1259.57, – Home Care Companions – $139.8, – Home of Economy – $68.88, – Interstate Power Systems Inc – $339, – Interstate Towing & Recovery – $837.99, – North Dakota Eye Clinic – $87.2, – Northwest Tire Inc – $67.96, – Peru – $3213, – Phoenix Supply – $221, – Polk County DAC – $39.38, – RDO Trust Account #80-5800 – $1476.45, – Reliance Telephone Systems Inc – $214, – Rydell Chevrolet – $91.81, – Safety Kleen Corporation – $20, – Stein’s Inc. – $233.68, – Stericycle Inc – $117.23, – Stones Mobile Radio Inc – $1578.32, – Summit Food Services LLC – $14380.67, – Thomson Reuters – $1522.87, – Thrifty White Pharmacy-Mn – $352.02, – VM Findley Consulting LLC – $8000, – Western Detention – $1695.44, – Xcel Energy – Mpls – $2372.96, employee status changes for Kayla Cort, Aaron Tibor, Brian Nunn, Spencer Marek, Kathryn Jund, William Smith, Teresa Marston, Elliot Stoll and Jennifer Lunde; overtime; and bond for check reissue. Motion carried unanimously.
Amber Gudajtes, Tax Equalization Director, addressed the board.
Carolyn Heskin addressed the board regarding the application for abatement on parcel number 40-3504-00001-003.
Chris McShane, Grand Forks-Traill County Joint Water Resource District Attorney, addressed the board.
Moved by Falck, seconded by Rost, to deny the abatement application of Carolyn Heskin for the 2020 special assessment. Special assessments can not be abated under NDCC 57-23. Motion carried unanimously.
The State’s Attorney will send a letter to Ms. Heskin providing the law as it relates to disputing special assessments.
Chris McShane, Grand Forks-Traill County Joint Water Resource District Attorney, addressed the board regarding the quick take eminent domain request.
Carolyn Heskin, owner of property 40-3504-00001-003, addressed the board.
Moved by Falck, seconded by Knauf, to authorize the Grand Forks-Traill Joint Water Resource District to utilize quick take eminent domain under Section 61-16.1-09(2) of the North Dakota Century Code to take an easement for a right of way and a temporary easement regarding Parcel Number 40-3504-00001-003. Motion carried unanimously.
Jordan Adams, Beehive Bar, addressed the board regarding having a street dance.
Sheriff Schneider said the Sheriff’s Office has no concerns at this time regarding the street dance.
Moved by Rost, seconded by Knauf, to approve the application from Jordan Adams for a Special Event Permit Alcoholic Beverage License for a street dance on July 24, 2021, 3:00pm- 3:00am, for the Beehive Bar of Reynolds. Motion carried unanimously.
Brad Gerken, Grand Sky Construction Company, addressed the board.
Moved by Knauf, seconded by Rost, to accept the bid from Sand Steel Building Company for $1,315,000 inclusive of the payment and performance bond. This will be paid from the 2019 Grand Forks Enhanced Use Lease Development Grant. Motion carried unanimously.
Michael Dulitz, Public Health COVID-19 Data and Analytics Leader and Debbie Swanson, Public Health Director, gave a COVID-19 update.
Kari Goelz, Emergency Management Director, addressed the board.
Moved by Knauf, seconded by Falck, to approve the attached Grand Forks County Drought Emergency Declaration with the Chair’s signature. Motion carried unanimously.
Ms. Goelz said Gannon Engkvist, Grand Forks County Emergency Management employee, won 1st place at a competition at UND for his Emergency Preparedness App for Grand Forks County.
Chair Pic congratulated Gannon Engkvist on behalf of the Grand Forks County Commission.
Nicole Evans, ND Small Business Development Center Director, gave an update and thanked the Commission for their support.
Moved by Rost, seconded by Falck, to appoint Joel Larson to an unexpired four-year term to the Planning and Zoning Board. His term will expire December 31, 2021. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved by Knauf, seconded by Rost, to approve the vacation of the 20′ utility easement in lots 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 of block 1 Meadowview 2nd Subdivision with the Chair’s signature on the petition and resolution. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved by Falck, seconded by Rost, to approve the Rezoning and Special Use Permit request of Farmers Elevator Company of Honeyford in Elm Grove Township with the following conditions: 1. Chemical treatments to the gravel surfaces shall be applied as needed to control dust onsite. 2. All bulk chemicals shall be kept in accordance to State and EPA regulations at all times. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved by Knauf, seconded by Falck, to approve the Special Use Permit request of Farmers Elevator Company of Honeyford in Gilby Township with the following conditions: 1. Chemical treatments to the gravel surfaces shall be applied as needed to control dust onsite. 2. All bulk chemicals shall be kept in accordance to State and EPA regulations at all times. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved by Falck, seconded by Knauf, to the change the words from “per diem” and “mileage per diem” to “stipend” in the Planning and Zoning documentation. Motion carried unanimously.
Nick West, County Engineer, addressed the board.
Moved by Rost, seconded by Knauf, to approve bidding a pavement project on County Road 5 and 17. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. West informed the board that 31% of our culverts are in need of replacement at an estimated cost of $25 million. The Highway Department proposes to increase their mill levy from 8.51 mills to 10 mills. The additional funds, approximately $500,000, would be used to replace culverts.
This will be part of the 2022 budget discussions.
Tom Ford, Director of Administration, addressed the board.
Moved by Falck, seconded by Rost, to approve $20,000 for the grant match requirement of the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation Military Installation Resiliency Grant FY21. The Director of Administration’s budget will be amended for the grant match. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved by Falck, seconded by Rost, to approve a change order for the GF County Office Building and Courthouse Safety Improvement Project for $43,188 for bullet glass in the State’s Attorney’s Office. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved by Falck, seconded by Knauf, to authorize the Human Resources Department to contact companies to perform a salary survey as soon as possible for Grand Forks County employees and report the findings back to the Commission. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved by Falck, seconded by Knauf, to approve the purchase of a 2021 Ram 1500 special service vehicle for the Grand Forks Coroner’s Office at a cost of $29,901.08 with tax and license from Nelson Auto Center and a tonneau cover and running boards for $1,093 from Auto Glass and Aftermarket. The CARES Act funds will be used. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved by Falck, seconded by Knauf, to approve the replacement of a chiller at the Grand Forks County Courthouse for a cost of $13,789.26 for CL Linfoot. This will be paid from capital improvements. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved by Knauf, seconded by Rost, to establish the American Rescue Plan fund and to deposit the payments from the US Treasury into the fund and dedicate this fund for all activity of the American Rescue Plan. All funds must be obligated by December 31, 2024. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved by Rost, seconded by Falck, to move the CARES Act funds from the Emergency Fund, 2910 to a separate fund, 2561. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved by Rost, seconded by Falck, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 6:14pm. The next meeting will be held on June 1, 2021 at 4:00pm.
Cynthia Pic, Chair
Grand Forks County Courthouse
Debbie Nelson, County Auditor
(June 9, 2021)2891680
